St. Pete-Clearwater Airport to Expand

By TB Reporter

A larger passenger terminal is among the scheduled improvements.

Pinellas County commissioners have approved a $9.8-million construction project to expand a passenger terminal, upgrade concessions and restrooms, and add security checkpoints to expedite travel time at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. Construction is expected to begin in April and be completed by summer 2017.

The airport has seen record number of passengers in recent months. In 2015, the airport served 1.65-million passengers — about 30 percent more than its previous one-year record of 1.3-million in 2004. Pinellas County drew more than 6-million tourists in 2015 and for the first time passed $40-million in tax collections on hotel rooms. Bed tax collections have increased nearly 60 percent n the past 5 years, according to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.